Gathering valve for pumping system



Jan. 8, 1935: H. E. LA BouR 'GATHERING VALVE FOR PUMPING SYSTEM FiledMarch 50, 1931 2- Sheets-Sheet l H. E. LA BOUR GATHERING VALVE FORPUMPING SYSTEM Jan. 8, 1935. 1,987,070

Filed March 30, 1931 l l l l l l l l 1 .Patented Jan. 8, 1935 u UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE My present invention relates to pumpingfsystems ingeneral and more particularly to valves for use in pumping systems,termed gathering systems, for collecting ork gathering liquid from aplurality of locations by means of a single pump.

The invention will be better understood when the purpose is known forwhich it is provided,

and I shall, therefore, briefly .review such pumping systemabove'referred to.

Local pockets of water accumulate inmines, excavations, and the like,and a pumping system is provided for their removal. Such Asystem'maycomprise a pump with several suctionopenings and suction lines which maybe onethousand feet or more long. These suction branches' may terminateat different levels sothatwhile one suction line may terminate at alevel only Va few feet below the pump, others may be locatedfteen totwenty feet and more below the pump. The quantity of water flowing intothe sumps or pockets is variable and it will be readily seen that thepump'will naturally pump from the higher level more rapidly and.` thatas soonr asany one sump or pocket is exhausted, air will ll thecorresponding suction line with the result that the pumping is stoppedfrom all 4ofthe sumps. To prevent this, in previous systems theVoperators equipped each suction branch'with a hand operated valve andhad `men'czonstantly circulating through the workings tok regulate thevalves inl order to keep the pump inoperation. y

Many like situations arise where it is desired to gather from differentlevels, or the same level,

liquids as they kaccumulate 'in tanks; pockets, VA-sumps or the like.

Systems Vhave been proposed heretofore in which automaticvalves wereprevided in the sumps or pockets, but such systems have not been whollysuccessful, particularly in L,case of installations inV mine servicewhere the.

'water is usually dirty and containscorrosive ingredients, and wherefrom the `rcharacter *of the lifts vacuums of, from twenty-vetotwenty-eight inches, often develop .under the valve seat.

Hence, although much work'has-been done inV "the direction of developingan nautomatictvalve controlled by the water level for this service,Afew,

if any satisfactory devices were developed prior to my invention whichis rdisclosed in the Patent "No. 1,775,860 of September 16, 1930.

In the above mentioned patentI have shown asystemin which a singleself-priming pump cou tion costs and to increase the reliabilityofoparea opening in the direction of suction.y 'I'his permits thevalve tobeused as a check-valve and provides ample operating forceA to openthevalve and to hold it open. The valve is connected to a link system whichin turn'is operableby vmeans 5 of a cam and lthis cam is'in turnoperable by a float. Thisl vinterconnecting mechanism is ian inter-lockbetween the valve andthe float. The Iioat prevents the valve fromopening until `the liquid reacheshigh level 'and the valve hinders 10 tthe float in dropping until the liquid has reached they minimum level.The valve is not closed until the level has lowered to a pointwhereairis drawn into the intake port whereupon the valveA is closed andthev whole weight of the float Vmay be applied toV locking the valve inclosed position. rWhile this entry of air appears'to be undesirable andwould in conjunction with ordinarycen-l trifugal pumps be likely tocause the pump to become air-bound and to destroy the pump suc-A 20tion,'I have shown the valve in my patent referredv to coordinated "witha self-priming pump which ifs-at all times capable of mamtaining itssuction,y even if air is admitted. Afterthe air hasy once entered .thesuction pipe through'the valve, the valve is closed and before it canagain be openedv the level of liquid must rise to a predeterminedl levelwhereupon ,the oat unlocks the valve'andsuction opens it. I'hus,A in thepatent mentioned above, I have provided a new and highly advantageous fsystem by coordinating the" gathering valve with a self-priming pumpcapable of pumping air along with liquid. l Marginal operation isthereby avoided and wire drawing is prevented.

v-Iurther details with reference to the disclo- 35 sureshown in thePatent 1,775,860, which I have briefly-"reviewed above,"inay be had fromcon-` sulting this patent.v I shall now describe my present 'inventionrwhich shows 4agathering valve of'thefcharacter andfor the l purposeintimated 40 butipresenting numerous novel featuresrand ad- 4 vantagesover the structure shown" in my patent. The present invention presents,lamong others;

the following novel features: y f The individual parts have beenappreciably simplified 'and arranged in cooperative assembly in a novelway with a view to reduce the produceration. y o 'I employ a drop valveinsteadof a lift valve, and the action lofrthis drop valve is assistedv,byv the iioat. u Y Several operating parts, suchas acounter- Weightshown in the structure which is "disclosed jects of the presentinvention will be better understood from a detailed description lof/theinventionjwhich "I'shall' furnish -novv inforuderfto acquaint thoseskilledin theartwith the man? ner of constructing and operating myinvention,Y .y y

" boss 20 in which is guided the stern 21 of the I shall describe thenovel structure in connectie with the accompanying drawingsinwhichfjhavefjw shown a specific embodiment of the same. d

In the drawingsz- Figure 1 is a vertical ylongit,lijlinal;f"Section5,'``through theV gathering valve showing `the workw Y :ofiths'e linkmembers 23 and 23' receive between ing parts in elevation withposition@v Y figurZfS.

e v f ther'irieclrianis z number freiativeiyfiiaroiv" verticalcludecoarsematerial th*` from-f Theseopen-Q ings are'indicated'inffthedrawings v'by' the 'refer `j encenumeral 14.".I Suitabl'elegsgorlboltingi flanges JL mayebe provided alongI :the *sides ofi `the bottomportion: :soA that: the, housing: maynbe Afastenedf down orotherwise-.attached tofa suitableimounte mechanism 'proven f comprisesfsevf memorable parts fThenSwv attaohmentof a threaded end cfa suctirpn''pipev lette? thrqujenwrrespeedies; f

in turn may be in cooperative relation with the pump in a mannergenerally as described in the Patent 1,775,860, previously referred to.Obviously, bolting anges may be substituted for the attachment threadedsocket portion 18, but I have found the threaded socket more convenient,since itpermits the end of the casing 16 to be projected through anopening in the top housing section 6 from the inside thereof, simplfyingtheassembly greatlyirner'vortiefl 0f the'. valve. l valve'seatto"`coop'erate with `th`e 'drop' valve 19. lhis valve body 15 has acentral hubfor hollow valvel.; xThe Yalvefstem may be fluted to reducefrictionv and the likelihood of fouling. The lower l"i"'encfof"thevalvestem 21 is joinedas indicated at22,torafpair;ofzshort links 23, 23'which are particularly shownin Figure 4. The upper ends assemble withtheolfhbolts` such,V iis-,38y 39l Iand the casing .theopenings in connec-'h h' upperfcasing 16 vbeing indicated l. the` referencefnumerals 41*42andAB, respectively. specialgtudlboltssuch as indicated. at

4,4,..455 and. 46 arefusedf ,forY halting the'y two-casingparts16andlrl7otthef lve body together before However, Iprefer toemployv the the assembly of the valve bodies as well as their fasteningto the top housing. If the second,

e bolting. means. This assembly I E lrlannerr` of. assembling the twovalve casrigs, and ofv mounting them inunitary assembly withthe upper.housing may be changed in. variv i ous ,ways. For example, plain boltswith threaded.

endsmay be employedlandshortpieceso'f tubingsmaybe used. for spacingAlthe casing 16 properly relative to the top housing 6. l A rstdescribe'dk arrangement. It is more practical andfacilitates`attachment,ofthefsamein unitary assembly with.,

described arrangement were used involving the tubings orl spacingsleeves, everytime the upper assembly bolts were loosened, the Avalvebody would come apart. y u

It will be seen that the valve mechanism as far as the samehas beendescribed in the foregoing, shows a drop valve which, by its weight,

and by the manner in which it is placed in operative assembly with thevalve bodyhas a tendency to remain in closed position. Ify suction ismanifest above the valve, in the chamber defined by the. casing 16,thissuction will tend to lift the valve from its seat, provided thevalve is in a position to be lifted off. This operation depends vion theoperation of the float 7. Before entering into a discussion how thisfloat operates relative tothe valve, I shall describe in the followingthe manner in which the float is mounted in cooperative relation to thevalve.

The oat 7 is mounted on a frame 53` by means nof ytous such as 54 and55. An arm 56 of the frame 53 telescopes into one en d 57 of a forkedcurved lever l58, the end 57 being forked to provide extensions intowhich the arm 56 of the float frame 53 can telescope, particularly as isshown inFigure 3. The arm 56 of the float is fastened tothe forked end57 of the curved lever 58 by means of bolts such as 59 and 60 which holdthe parts in assembly by means of suitable nuts.

.The extreme bend of the forked lever 58 is I,therefrom and intosuitable `openings in the arms 63-,-63of the curved lever.l 'Ihe levercan therefore swing about these pins 61-61 when the float 7 is moved dueto they influx of liquid through the louvers 14 into the valve housing.--`Pipe plugs 61-61 may be mounted in corresponding threaded openings inthe wall of the casing 17 in order to secure the pins 61-61 in positionand to facilitate assembly and disassembly. l

, kThe lever 58 which is forked adjacent the pivot ends 61 as describedabove, comprises cam members such as 65 which extend in the presentinstance substantially at right angles from the longitudinal portion ofthe lever. The cam lzmembers r65 comprise two different dwells 66 and 67separated by a relatively sharp knee 68. The two dwells 66 and 67 aredistinctive in function. The positive dwell 66 isof such a character asto serve to lock the valve 19 closed.

.That is to say, the riseis that of a small angle or thin wedge so thatthe weight'of the float operating through the leverage of the lever r58lis able to hold the valve 28gclosed against maximum suction thereon. Thenegative cam dwell .f 67 has the function of providing so steep a risethat the impact pressure of liquid flowing against the .valve 19` willtend to hold the float 7 in elevated position. The rise of the cam dwell67 is such as to be reversible. It is so shaped as @to give a quick dropafter the rollers 26-26 (on which the cam portions of the lever ride)pass' the knees 68, thus permittingmaximum Valve opening with minimumfloat travel. v

The operation of the valve is as follows: Assuming that the parts are inthe position shown' inthe Figures 1 and 4, and that the'pump of thesystem is being driven so as tohold a vacuumin the suction pipeattachedto'thelupper threaded portion of the Valve casing 16. I There*l is,therefore, a'vacuum above the valve 19, within the suction chamberdefined by the casing 16. The relatively large area of the valve19 withtherdifference in pressures which exists lthereupon provides a largeopening force which, however, is

prevented from operating to open the valve 19 due to the fact that the`valve 19 is lockedl inv closed position by the dwells` 66 which engagethe rollers 26 as shown.' The dwells 66`are thrust under the rollers26-26 by the weight ofthe 'f oat 7. The weight of the float operatingthrough the mechanical advantages secured by the levers and the camdwells 66 is capable of closing and holding 4closed the valve 19 evenagainstV the maximum differenceof pressure established byvr the suctioncreated by the pumping system.

Let us assume now that the liquid level rises in the pocket or sump inwhich the mechanism is disposed. The liquidwill enter into the valvehousing through the louvers 1li-and will raise the i float. The dwells66-66 ofthe cams 65-65 will therefore slide to the rightiasseen inFigure l) along the rollers 26-26 to a point where theV knees 68 passthe linesof centers between the rollersy 26-26 and the pivot points 61ofthe cams. At this point of Ithefrise of the float 7 the cam relationis changed. The valve 19 will be unlocked and will begin to-open. `Therollers 26-26 then operate on cam dwells 67` andfsince ythe'angle ofthese cam dwells is such that after f thel rollers once pass over theknees 68 the How of liquid will be able to throw thevalve Wide open and,acting through the rollers, simultaneously raise the float to a smalllift above its previous position, that is, above its'release position.'Ihe float will then occupy the high float positionin which it is shownin Figure 2. The valve 19 now takes control of the oat. As long `asthere is!v suction maintained in the suction chamberabove the valve 19,the oat will remainin the position in which it is shown in Figure 2 andthe valve will remain in wide open position, permitting the pump to drawout the liquid which accumulates in the valve housing, entering intoAthe hous- Y ing through the louvers 14. f

The pump will then continue to draw liquid through the intake port ofthe valve, holding the port in the open position just described, and

the level lof the liquid will drop. It may be obv` served that I haveprovided in the top ofv the casing 6 openings such as 70 and 71 toprevent trapping of air Lor liquid in the dome formed by' ythe top ofthe cover cf the housing. ,I It shall be assumed now that the level ofthe liquid drops below the lower margin of the valve casing 17 while thepump continues to operate creating suctionabove the valve 19. Air willnowk enter the intake port above the valve19 and the pressure differencewill therefore be reduced. -Accordingly, there being insufficientdifference in pressure to maintain the mechanism in the position inwhich it is shown in the drawings, Figure 2, the weight of the `float 7and also the weight of the valve 19 will cause l:the valve 19'to dropsince the'pressure difference is not strong enough f to hold the valve 7in the raised position-in which it is shown, and 'inl dropping, themechanism-will assume the position in which it is shown in Figure 1. Inothery words, the valve will be locked in closed position by the lockingdwells 66-66 V4of the cam 65. l

It has been assumed in the' above description of the.l operation ofthemechanism that the suction created` by the pump andeffective to theintake port or suction chamber above the valve 19 is strong enough tomaintain the' valve in the raised positionin which it is shown in Figure2 with the valve119 wideA open.

4It will be assumed now that the suction is strong enough to draw liquidbut not. strong enough to maintain they float in the raised position jinwhich it is shown in` Figure 2 with av liquid-level only slightly abovethe lower margin oftheopening of the lower casing 17. If this is the;`case, the float willv follow the level of the liquid andpartially closethe valve until the knees `68;- ofthe cams engage the rollers 26-2'6. At

this` point of the; operation the knees of the cam will afford sucientretarding force to permit the', level ofthe liquidl to drop ahead of theoat until sufficient Vdifferential is secured to permit 'the weight ofthe float to snap the cam knees over, the rollers- 26--26 and toclosethe valve '19 with. a snap action locking the same closed in thepositionin which it is shownin Figure 1.

In` case air should be drawn into the suction v'pipe in the courseof theoperation of the valve 19n may be partially opened anda slight amountmechanism as above described, no harm Will be done inY the system sinceI employ a self-priming. pump asis particularly described in my patentl`:mentioned previously No. 1,775,860.

Thev closing operationof the .valve must be considered in twooperations; first', the release of the fi'oatwhich is secured throughthe passing of the rollers 26.-26' tothe knees` 68 of the cams i 65.After they float is released by the passing of they rollers over the camkneesI 68 it then brings the valve against its seat even against theforce ofsuction of the pump.-Y

ItV will bei seen now that the valve has a positional control overY theoat operation and vice versa, the float has a positional control overvthe valve operation.

Astheliquid eollects'and rises above-the lowf liquidi level, it will.nally come to a position igwhereitwill tend to raise the'v float.Duringall. thistimethe valve 19 is; shut tight. As the .liq-

uid furthercollects and raises the float. the valve of liquid may passtherethrough.` Air will not be ,drawn intothevalve intakeforif theliquid level should drop below the `low float position,r the iloatwouldy `thereupon lockthe valve completely closed.

Itiwlll be observed that when the valve 19 opens A, it opens suddenlydueto the angle of the dwells 67?-#67 on` the cams;` therebyftending toclean itself by the sudden inrush of liquid through'the t Dort..

toy hold the float in. raisedI position regardlessof the liquid level,thenthe liquid leveliwill fall to such-a point that air will beyadmitted to the l valve. This Will-release a. largepart of the pres- 1sure tending to holdv thevalve open, with the Assuming that the pressureexerted by thei pum-p..- upon the valve 19. isrelatively sov great asabove intimated conditionsl will prevail dependingY upon the positionwhich the mechanism takes in' a pumping` .system with regard to otherllike gathering valves. l f p p The principles of my invention may beembodied in` a variety of forms and while in the above embodiment. Ihave shown a preferred form, I Wish to call attention'- to the` factthatother mechanisms than the specific one which I have. shown may beemployed.

1A comparison of the 'above described`inven tion with the embodimentsshown in the patent previouslyreferred to will reveal the` fact that fcertain features of the present invention' exhibit a generallystructural and also functional sirnif-v. larity relative tocorresponding features shown However, such comparison willV in thepatent. v also reveal the fact that the present embodiment introducesnumerous improvementsin the structure of details' and in theirlcooperative assembly as well asv ink their function over the structuresdescribed. in the prior disclosure. salient novel features are, forconvenience sake', listed below.

In thef prior disclosure I have shown a valve Somel of then bodyfastened to the valve housing from the side thereof and entering thevalve housing, .then-k rising within4 the valve housing in an angle. The

valve mechanism is mounted onthis valvel body Y u within the housing.l

In the present disclosure, the' casing enclosing `V the valve mechanism,projects into'th'e Vliquid which accumulates, in a manner as ify thevalve' housing were merely a continuation of the suc'- tion pipe,dipping directly into the liquid. The

valve mechanism is disposed entirely'withinvv the valve bod-'y insteadof being `faste-nedon the same. The valve body is, in other words,constructed so as to` function as an extension ofthe suction pipe whichmay beassumedto'have been dropped into. ,the sump` or pocket forremoving Waterfrom the same.

The advantages secured by this novel ar-l rangement are numerous.` Theaction of the,

mechanism will be more positive. of liquid from the sump or pocket inwhichmy .novel gathering valve is placed will beA expedited tothe extentof being able to withdraw the water practically down to the ground levelof the sump or pocket.

TheV removal The lower casing l'7` can ofcourse kloe extended downwardlyif desired'. i' Changes.

such as a slot in the Wall of the casing 17 for the passage of thecurved lever areyoff corurs'egf Within the possibilities ofv myinvention.

y A further advantage resides in the elimination` of ce1-.tain partssuch` asa counter weight'for securing the action of the valve; --Iutilizev the weight of the valve instea'clof operating'again'st" theforce createdV thereby.

dropped into a sump orvvaterA pocket,` reaching directly from above intothe liquid' accumulating in such pocket, kthere will'be no tendencyA ofthe; This' liquid to swirl and to set up an air cone". would be thetendency where the liquidis rapidly Since the valve n body comprisingthey *casingsV '50 i6 and 17 may be considered* as being'in thej `natureof an extension of a` suctiony pipe tol be'y withdrawn througharelratively large'port opening in a structure in which the valve `bodyis dis- `posed at the bottom of the sump andrises withinv the liquid inthe direction towardthe surfaceV level thereof.

Further structural advantages' which will be readily appreciated arerealized by assembling the valve body andthe entire valve' and floatop'- Lil) Herat'ing mechanism in a lunitary structure with the top part6of the housing.

Inaddition to having eliminated certain ydetails, I `have alsosimplified the operating parts so that production thereof is cheapened.Attention is called, for example, to the simple'formr lof the floatwhich I able to employin my novel valve mechanism. The assembly of theparts in operativeV relation isalso rendered simple and thereforecheaper, ,andl maintenance or repair work, should such workberequired,will be renderedeasier for the same reasons.

operating with said Valve seat, said valve tending to attach by gravityto said valve seat to seal 'the passage between saidsuction chamber andsaid intake port, a oat, and an interlocking connection between saidvalve and said oat and disposed wholly within said tubular intake port.

2. In combination, a valve body comprising a valve seat, a suctionchamber disposed above said valve seat, a downwardly opening tubularintake port disposed below said valve seat, means for attaching asuction pipe to said suction chamber, a check valve for said valve seatopening with normal flow and checking upon reverse flow, a iioat, and amechanism for maintaining an interlocking connection between said valveand said oat, said mechanism being disposed within said intake port formovement therein about an axis above the intake opening.

3. In combination', a4 valve body comprising a valve seat, a 'suction'chamber disposed above said valve seat, an intake port disposed belowsaid valve seat, a check valve for said valve seat, said valve tendingat all times to attach to said valve yseat by gravity for sealing thevpassage between said suction chamber and said intake port, a float, Iandan interlocking mechanism between said valve and said float andoperative to release the yvalve to permit it to open when the float isin its upper position.

4. In combination, a valve body comprising a valve seat, a suctionchamber disposed above said valve seat, an intake port disposed belowsaid valve seat, a check valve for said valve seat, said valve tendingat all'times to attach to said valve seat for sealing the passagebetween said suction chamber and said intake port, a oat, and aninterlockingmechanism between said valve and said oat, said interlockingmechanism including cam means operative to hold the valve in closedposition when the float is in its lower position disposed within saidintake port.

51 In combination, a-v valve body comprising a valve seat, a suctionchamber disposed above said seat, an .intake port disposed below saidvalve seat, a check valve for saidvalve seat, said valve tending at alltimes to attach to said valve seat for, sealing the passage between saidsuction chamber and said intake port, a iloat, and an interlockingmechanismbetween said valve and said float, said interlocking'mechanismbeing disposed within said intake port and operated by said :float uponthe attainment of high level liquid to releasev said valve and theoatl'thereupon being held in yraised position by the valve operatvingthrough said'interlocking mechanism until vthe level of liquid islowered to a predetermined valvejseat, asuction chamber disposedabove'said I valve seat, an intake port disposed below said 'valve seat,a check valve for said valve seat, said valve tending at all times toattach to said valve seatuior sealing the passage between said suctionchamber and said intakenport, a float, an interlocking mechanism betweensaid valve and said loat, a container for housing said float and saidvalve body with all cooperating'parts including said interlockingmechanism and provided" .with a plurality of inlet openings, a cover,for Asaid container, vand lmeans for attaching said valve body withallcooperating parts in a .unitary .assembly to said cover.` q Y 'Y '7.y Incombination, a valve body comprising a valve seat, a suction chamberdisposed abovesaid valve seat, an intake port disposed below saidvalve'seat, a check valve ior said valve seat, a valve tending atalltimes to attach to said valve seat'for sealing thepassage betweensaid suction chamber and said intake port, a iioat, an intery lockingmechanism between said valve and said float, said interlockingmechanismbeing disposed .within said intake port and operated by said ing saidvalvebody with all' cooperating parts in a unitary assembly tosaidcover.

8. In combination, a4 valve body having an inlet casing, a suctionchambena plateinterposed between said casing and said chamber, a valveseat on said plate, acheck valve for said valve seat, a hub on saidplate, the stem of saidl valve extending downwardly through said hub,said check valve ,opening with normal Vflow and checking vupon 'reverseow, afloat, and an interlocking connection between said float and saidstern, said connection being disposed within said inlet casing. l

9. In a liquid gathering system having .a downwardly extending suctionpipe, agathering'container, a cover for said container, avalve bodyenclosed within said container, theupper part of said valve bodyprojecting through, the cover of said container and having means forattaching said suction pipethereto, a valve. port in said .valve body, acheck valve for said port opening in the direction of flow producedbysuction and closing by the action of the `column of liquid in saidsuction pipe, an vintake chamberbelow said valve port, a oat, andirreversible actuating means connecting saidfloat and said valve withinsaid intake chamber to permit said float to move said valve to closedposition and to prevent the suction on said valve from actuating saidyfloat. Y i

10. In combination, a valve body having a suc- TJiQIl Chamber, an intakechamber, an inlet port said port.

disposed intermediate of said chambers for permitting .the passage ofliquid from said intake chamber to said suction chamber, a check'ivalveforsaid port, a iloat, means controlledby said float and `disposedwithin saidintake'chamber .for locking said valvejin closed position,andV means controlled by said* valve for, holding said float in raisedposition. m o f i N11. In a'device ofthe class described, the assemblyof a valve body comprising an intake chamber, a suction chamber, va portopening disposed between said chambers, a check valve for .said port,said valve having at all times a tendency to .close said port,.a float,and means dis-y `posedwithin said intake chamber for connect.- ing saidiloat to said valvesaid means serving .to` hold said oat in raisedposition while' said valvefis held open by the flow of liquid throughl2.` In a device oftheclass described, a tubular 4valvev body havingapartition, a port in said partition providing a passage forliquid flowthrough ,said valvebody, alcentrally disposed hub integral with saidpartition, a valve having astem en.-

`gaging saidhub, said valve having at alltimesa jtendency .to'lclosesaid port, a iloat, an interlock- `ing mechanism disposed within saidtubular valve body below said valve for connecting said. valve stem withsaid float, mansincluded in "said .mechanism and` operable-by said`valve forhold- -ing said float in raised position during the now.of'liquid through said port, kand meansincluded v.in said mechanismandoperable by said float for vclosing saidr-valveand for locking saidvalve in closed positionconsequent to the passage'of air through'saidport. l

.13. Ina liquid gathering device of the class described,a.`tubular`valve body, a partition in .said body'separating said body into a lowerintake chamber and an upperA suction chamber, means Lfor attaching asuction pipe to said suctionchamber, a port in said partition for `thepassageof liquid from' said intake chamber to .saidsuctionlchamberconsequent to the application of suction through said suction pipe, acentrally. disposedhub below said port, a valve having a stemengagingsaid hub and projecting into fsaidintake chamber, said .valvehaving at all times a tendency toclose said port, afloat, meansvcontrolled by lsaid Vfloat for locking said valve in closed-positionconsequentto the lowering of the liquid level below the lowerxedge ofsaid intake Achambergjmeans controlled by said valve for sembly withsaid cover forpermitting the drawingof liquid while preventing thedrawing of air through said suction pipe, said mechanism including atubular body projecting through said cover, means on saidtubular bodyfor attaching saidsuction pipe thereto, a valve seat within said body, acheck valvecooperating therewith, a float disposed in said housing, andinterlockingl means vdisposed within said `tubular body below said A,toal predetermined position.

valve seat-for holding said float` inraised-:position during the'drawingof liquid andl'for locking said check valvefin closed position Irelativet0 said valve seat upon-,lowering of the liquid level l 15. Incombination, a'rhousing, a substantially Z .vertically disposed tubularvalve body therein, V vra, suction connectionfon'the Aupper part of saidbody, an inlet port Afacing downwardly and exf vtending toapointadjacent the bottom ofthel housing and normally adapted to receiveliquid,

a valve interinediateof said suction connectionland said inlet port forclosing vsaid inlet port, a iloat controlled mechanism disposed withinsaid inlet port for controlling said. valve, a oat arm having a oat atone end and aturned up portion at the other end passing under the lowerend of said inlet port and extending upwardly'to apoint therein forattachment to said mechanism, a cover for vsaid housing, andmeansforattaohing said tubular valve body to said cover. l

16. A liquid gathering device of the class described, comprising a.tubular suction chamber having means .at its upper side for connecting asuction pipe thereto, a tubularintake chamber 'facing downwardly andnormally adapted toreceive liquid, a plate disposed between` saidchambers, a valve seat in said plate, a checkvalve cooperating with saidvalve seat, said valve having at'all times a tendency to attach to saidvalve seat Y said intakev chamber, mechanism disposed within said intakechamber for controlling saidy valve 7:

by meansfof said float, a housing, a cover therefor, and means 'formounting said suction chamber in assembly with ,said intake. chamber andsaid plate on the inside` of .said cover.'

A17. InY combination,v a 'valvebody having an inlet port,`a suctionvchamben'a plate interposed and noatlarmfthe lattenhaving acurved portionextending upwardly into lthe inlet port and fulcrumed .on said plate,`said curved end terminatingV in anenddisposedbelow the fulcrum .axis andconnected with said valve, rand. means for guiding the valve in itsv'movements relative to said valve seat plate; 'y

18. In combination', a valve body having means forming a pair ofserially connected chambers, a plate interposed between-said'chambershaving a valve seat, a valve for the seat r adapted to control thelfluid flow therethrough, a `controlling arm having an end. extending`generally. yaxially into one of said chambers and pivotally supportedfrom said plate, and .operative connections between said endof the armand said valve.`

v' 19.- In combination, a valvebody having means forming a pairofserially connected chambersga plate interposed'betweensaid chambershaving' a valve seat, a valve for the seat adapted to control the`fmicfiow therethrough, a controuing arm having a main portion extendinggenerally at an angle to one of said chambers, a second pori tionextending generally axially into one of said chambers andpivotallysupported from said plate,

said second portion disposing the arm teclear the end of the chamberintowhichthe second por- 'HARRY E.V LABQUR.

